Stitcher Scribbler

2011-03-18T17:10:00.000Z

Last Sunday I flew back to the UK and began the final weeks of wedding planning... one week to go!!

Its all been busy, busy, busy and time is flying by and it looks like it will continue this way so I'm not too sure when I'll next be popping in but I promise it will be as soon as I can

xox

If only a little cloud, at least its crafty...

2011-03-12T18:22:00.000Z

As a crafty blogger I thought I best have something a little crafty to put in my week of blogging (oh yes a post-a-day after my 3 month absence and very easily too, I missed it more than I knew) so I searched through my photos for an unshared project.

There wasn't many to chose from but I found this little cloud pouch which I made to wrap a little cloud brooch.

Not much of a story, but a cute little bag.

And I love the lining...

...sweet little japanese faux patchwork from this lovely etsy shop, which I suppose is my clumsy little way of getting on to the subject of Japan and how my heart goes out to everyone who is affected.

I think this says it all in a beautifully simple way (found via The Loulogue)

A few notes... How refreshing!!

2011-03-11T10:32:00.000Z

I'm a huge fan of a dessert table and I love this Ice Cream Parlour one...

...or maybe its just the ice cream vases I have a weak spot for.

This Ice Cream Come trinket box has been an etsy favourite of mine for ages.

The other thing that keeps catching my eye is these...

pictures above from my favourite wedding blogs

from 100 layer cake

...fruit filled urns and pastel coloured drinks, aren't they pretty?

I'd quite like a wedding cocktail, something that looks good, isn't too alcoholic and will be liked by many. I have my last caterers meeting so I'm desperately looking for ideas...

What's your favourite cocktail?

A few notes... Garden Party

2011-03-10T12:23:00.000Z

We are lucky to be getting married in the lovely setting of a Walled Garden and hopefully we will be very lucky and the weather will let us make the most of it...

Please, please cross your fingers and do a little rain rain go away dance for us

But whatever the weather, I love these Garden theme party ideas which I will use one day...

Garden-style Flowers

They will be lots of pots in this post.

Little Green Potted Placecards...

...or Little Flower ones - I can't chose which is sweeter!

And similar style diy gifts here

Vegetable Patch Escort Cards How-to by The Rifle Paper co!

I'm sure this could be turned in to a cute little game

Sugar Flower Cupcakes from a local cake maker

A photo of my own! Invites are from Wedding Paper Divas (Tiny Prints for non wedding stationary) and I highly recommend them

Daisy food picks from Martha Stewart

- my new favourite craft site, how did it take me so long to find you!!

And my absolute favourite in cute food...

Potted Chocolate Pudding with cookie soil and edible flowers!

Love, Love, Love!

ps. this is one of the prettiest Garden Wedding posts

A few notes... Floating fancies

2011-03-09T15:05:00.000Z

Clever Pymette knew where the balloons in the wood from the last post came from, the wedding of The Cherry Blossom Girl...

...who also had gorgeous floating cloud balloons. I have to decorate a party with these!

You can see the whole wedding here.

And I thought today's post could be about floaty light lovelies...

Balloons, lanterns and pale peony prettiness from Snippet and Ink - another beautiful inspiration board place

Flowers that look like clouds - I have a new found love of gypsophila

Marshmallow hot chocolate gifts

Make yours here

It never would have worked for me but still I love this dress

Find similar vintage prom dresses at Timeless Vixens Vintage

Giant tissue pom poms - I shall make you and hang you everywhere...

A few notes... In the Woods

2011-03-08T14:45:00.000Z

When I first started wedding planning, I couldn't get this amazing woodland wedding out of my mind. Its so beautiful with feathers and wild flowers and lights hanging from trees. We aren't having a woodland wedding but its still one of my favourite themes.

Botanical Centrepiece

Tree Trunk Vases...

...Cake Stands...

(make one yourself with Etsy's tutorial)

...and Candles

(I have no source for these, but find similar on Etsy)

Sweet Wild Flowers

And Magical Settings.. this is one of my favourite pictures ever!!

Here I must make a confession... as well as being a lapsed blogger, a wedding obsessive and a crazy inspiration picture collector, I am a forgetful label maker and can't quite remember where I found some of these photos to give credit for where this wonderfulness is due and I really feel bad about that. I do know they all come from my favourite wedding blogs...

ps my favourite wedding post of the day is Becky's carnival cute Bridesmaids Card...

A few notes... Wedding Blogs

2011-03-07T14:46:00.000Z

Oh dear, has it really been that long?

3 months and not a peep!

Time does fly when making plans...

In less than 3 weeks I'll be getting married, just 19 days to go! I'm very excited and everything is almost ready. Many many things have been ticked off lists and a few lessons have been learnt. Planning isn't as easy as I thought but it is very easy to immerse yourself in the world of wedding and forget to pop your head up every once in a while which is the only way I can explain my absence.

As the time gets closer I've found I have pages of inspiration all saved up that I don't what to let go, so I thought I'd share some here starting with my favourite whimsical 'do it your way' wedding blogs...

100 Layer Cake

grey likes weddings

Once Wed - the first wedding blog I fell for

Postcards and Pretties - inspiration board heaven!

Rock my Wedding - my favourite UK wedding blog

Ruffled

And finally Style Me Pretty

As well as gorgeous weddings and the prettiest of pictures, these blogs are also filled with crafty ideas for all sorts of projects. Over the next few posts, I will share more pretties I've found.

In the meantime, any last minute advice for a bride-to-be?

xox

Ta Da!

2010-12-06T13:46:00.000Z

Thank you to everyone who left a comment for my 300 post!

The random number thingy picked comment number 4...

Yay!! Congratulations Meni!!

I have the baubles all wrapped up for you, please email me your post address to jeni_s@hotmail.co.uk and I'll send them off straight away :)

And for everyone else there is still 30% off in the little shop until Thursday the 9th December, just use the Etsy coupon code BLOG300 at checkout!

300! 30% and 3 free Things!

2010-12-02T16:28:00.002Z

To celebrate 300 posts of stitching, scribbling and general chattering I am offering all my bloggy friends 30% off everything in the little shop!

Just use the etsy coupon code: blog300 at the checkout :)

And...

I have a little giveaway for you too!

All 3 of these Cheery Festive friends for your tree or pressies.

Just leave a comment below and I pick a random winner on Sunday

See you then and thank you for all the lovely comments from the past 299 posts, they always make me smile :)

Lemonade on a Winter's Day

2010-12-01T22:27:00.000Z

Happy new month with a happy new bunny!

Raspberry Lemonade Bunnikins

Not just because she's pink and sweet...

...she also has a little sachet of raspberry lemonade scent inside her tummy!

Not the most wintery bunnikins I know but things should become more Christmas-y soon. I'm working on a festive friend for you to make and my next post will be a big number one so I think its time for a treat yay!

Is-he-kins?

2010-11-16T11:29:00.000Z

I had an inkling that Ermmikins was looking a touch cat-like.

One day I will stitch a Kittikins but for now I think I've made him what he was supposed to be...

...a Foxikins.

What do you think? Is he quite there yet?

Yep, Ermmikins was trying to be a little fox with a bushy tail and little white cheeks... but the cheeks were all wrong, definitely more blushes or whiskers. I'm hoping these are much more fox-like. I've also been trying different scented stuffings so he smells like orange and honey.

yummmmm...

I'll be listing him in the little shop later if anyone would like a sniff!

Head in the Clouds

2010-11-13T18:38:00.000Z

First of all, I have to say thank for all your help with Ermmikins!

I've been playing around with and he is almost there and I think I have a completely new 'ikins' too, all because of you! I will definitely be asking for your help in future :)

As much as I love a new animal friends I thought it was about time for a new Bunnikins and here he is...

Head in the Clouds Bunnikin

He is probably the most thoughtful one of the family, deep in a day dream.

But that's not the only reason he is called 'Head in the Clouds' for if you turn him around...

...a little fluffy cloud and a peek of sunshine!

He is in the Little Shop along with all my little Xmas stitches. I haven't really made anything new, just the same little cuties as last year. Its hard to think Christmas when it still looks like so bright outside, the downside to moving country has been missing Autumn. I do have some ideas for the Snowbunnies, but I better be quick...

I'll be back on Monday with the new Ermmikins

Ermmm-ikins

2010-11-10T07:51:00.000Z

A little Someone I've been working on for a while.

Something's not quite right...

He sits in the corner.

I stare at him, he stares at me.

Something's not quite there...

I try to draw him while pretending I can't see him.

He doesn't look like I think he does but only in a little way.

Something I can't put my finger on...

When you see him with his friends, you get more of an inkling of what he may be,

But on his own not quite...

Something's just not right.

Wed(nesday): Made for Maids

2010-11-03T19:55:00.000Z

My first wedding craft... tiny bouquets to ask "will you be my bridesmaid?"

Made from tiny paper flowers, fabric and ribbon tied to a sweet little blossom notecard... I got the idea from here.

I wrapped them up in lots of tissue layers and sent them on their way...

...and had lovely Yes's in return :-)

Happy Wednesdays

Lurking in Corners...

2010-10-28T14:19:00.000+01:00

Another Halloween corner...

Candles, pumpkin and shadows...

Treats and Owls...

...and a little note for naughty Trick-or-Treater!

Halloween How-to's

2010-10-21T16:18:00.000+01:00

With 10 days to go I thought it was time to make the apartment a little spooky and stitched up another Dangling Spider Stitched Web that I share with you a couple of years ago...

You can find the how-to here to make your own.

I only change a couple of things from the original to make mine... a few more webby strings to make a fuller home for little spidy and stronger legs for the little guy...

...made from little strips of felt sewn in just the same.

Other little Halloween how-to's are here too:

Drawstring Pumpkin Treat bags

Little Bat Wings

Printable Mini Garlands

Happy Stitcherings

Wed(nesday): The date is saved...

2010-10-20T11:54:00.000+01:00

Last night our Save-the-Dates were posted!

I'll share a little peek once they start arriving but here is a few others I fell for along the way...

Save-the-Date Tea Towel

by The Original Wedding Tea Towel

Such fun designs and like a big poster on fabric - I do love a tea towel!

Save the Date Card

by Elspeth and Rose on Folksy

"Pencil us in... " so sweetly said.

Fireflies Save the Date

by Minted

So pretty and so nearly 'the one'

Vintage printed Handkerchiefs

by Benign Objects on Etsy

She made for her own wedding. These are so beautiful my heart aches a little and you have to look at the rest of her post about them as there are more lovely pics to see.

And of course, a little more Rifle Paper Co. love.

I have also just finished my first handmade wedding project and will share that next wednesday too!

Have the loveliest of days

Wed(nesday): The prettiest of all the papers

2010-09-15T21:51:00.000+01:00

The past few weeks I have been searching for the perfect invitations and have fallen deeply in love with

Rifle Paper co.

(all pictures from Rifle Paper co. blog and shop)

How dreamy and perfect can stationery be!

And its not just weddings...

I love this print...

and these cards...

...I love everything!

The most perfect paper shop in world!

...but I am still looking for my pretty invites, any suggestions?

xox

Where the Heart is

2010-09-14T21:09:00.000+01:00

I've been a bit busy with non-craft things so far this week so I'll share something lovely from someone else...

This lovely little framed fluttering heart is a piece I requested from the very talented Terror Dome back in February. It was a valentine/engagement present for my dear fiance. The heart itself is cut from a map...

...and on the right, just off that big loop of green road is where we got engaged!

Terror Dome also make the most beautiful butterflies from old pages...

This picture is from the Folksy shop and you can find her on Etsy here too.

You really should stop by!

Drum Roll Please...

2010-09-12T20:47:00.000+01:00

The Little Shop is open once more...

The Spooky Cute Pumpkins have just taken their place on the floaty shelves along side the Bunnikins and Stitch Picturery. New stuff to come soon...

xox

Happy Day!

2010-09-10T12:25:00.000+01:00

Today is Gibraltar's National Day and I am off to celebrate!

Thought I'd share with you the country's most famous thing - The Rock, my version and the real thing...

Hope you have a wonderful day!

xox

The Tale of Two Boxes

2010-09-09T13:14:00.000+01:00

In the furthest wooliest corner of my apartment sits a box...

Its not a very big box but inside it hold a lot of treasure...

I have my whole sewing room packed into this box.

All the supplies I could squeeze in at least, it just closes... just!

All the important stuff is there. Cute prints, felt, bunny knits, lace, buttons, zips. A little bit of everything but still knowing where to begin is hard...

And then there's the second box...

...the Box of Shop.

Easier to know where to begin,

Just have to re-open the Little Shop.

And that's what I'll do today...

xox

(If you do happen to stop by the little shop, please let me know you came from here because I want to add a little treat for blog friends. A thank you for the lovely hello's...)

Wed-nesday?

2010-09-08T18:36:00.000+01:00

Bear with me with these daily snippets,

my head is not in blog mode just yet...

You may have seen this softie before. A Wedding Cake request from a friend and a sewing theme I will be following again soon...

The past few months I have been indulging my inner princess with lots and lots of wedding planning.

We have set the date for March next year

and found a lovely english garden to be married in.

I have fallen for many of the gorgeous wedding sites and all the handmade touches to add to special days.

I have saved and sourced a million little pretties.

But before I go on I want to ask,

would you like me to share?

It won't be too much I promise, just a post once a week or scarcer and the pretties, stationary, inspiration, sweet details and craftiness rather than seating plans and bridal nightmares.

Thank you all so much for stopping by,

you made me feel very welcome back!

xox

Hello old friend!

2010-09-07T10:15:00.000+01:00

It's been like this for far too long but yesterday it changed...

Needles!

Felt!

Threads!

No room for diner at the dining table!

Actual crafty messiness!

I'm so excited to have my urge to sew back, oh how I miss it!

I missed you too and to get over my "umm...err...so many excuses" embarrassment of neglecting poor little blog here, I think a daily snippet may be called for...

And with that you'll see me tomorrow!

xox

Birds and Trees of long ago...

2010-06-04T12:32:00.000+01:00

Okay, enough of the sniffling and back to the crafting...

and I do mean waaaay back...

...to Christmas in fact...

I know, eek!

As well as the Swallow pouch I posted a long long time ago, I also stitched up two other pouch from the wonderful Bend the Rules Sewing. The first is made from an amazing ikea bird and flower fabric I got a couple of years ago. When having my big craft room sort out, I discovered I am quite the hoarder! I have so much fabric that I am saving for a special thing yet never remember it when those something come along. I must learn to me less precious about fabrics and finding, wheres the fun of hiding them away! I'm sure I'm not the only one, right?

A present for a friend is always a good project for lovely fabric I find! And that what we have... with a scatter of bead stitched in to the pattern and a lovely puffy flower,

which I discovered may lovely little trees as well...

This is one of my favourite things I stitched last Christmas.

It super simple but I just find it oh-so-cute...

Struggling to give it away (but I was good, I did to my dearest friend) I promised I would may something similar for myself and as I found the picture this morning one thing popped into my head...

'Ooh! Placements!'

So back I'll go to the Bend-the-Rules book as I'm sure there were lovely placement instructions in there.

There is some many lovely things in there, everyone should have it (or her other book which I bet is just as awesome and on my wish list)

First I need to unpack my little fabric suitcase and hope all the ingredients are in there...

Have lovely weekends and thank you for your sweetness!

Change...

2010-06-02T12:55:00.000+01:00

I spent some of the long weekend exploring and was lucky enough to come across a lovely beach.

Having no beach things with us, we just walked and doodled in the sand...

And around my feet I saw a familiar sight from a photo I posted almost a year ago to the day...

Familiar but not quite,

the same but different...

And that's kind of how I feel about everything right now.

There are lots of things which feel like back home and where that is comforting, at the same time its a little bizarre and a lot to get my head around. Its the new place and the new life, its quite overwhelming and not as simple as I thought. I thought with the internet back I could slip back into to blogging and crafting but all the 'new' is stumping me a little...

Not that I'm complaining, how could I?

Just ummming and errring and hoping saying it out loud will help...

xox

It's so nice to be here...

2010-05-27T16:13:00.000+01:00

After what feels like a very very long time indeed, I'm glad to say I'm back here at the little blog and after all the upheaval I'm being to feel myself again in a place I can finally call home...

We arrived at 'home' three little weeks ago after a very long drive and a car full of our random little things, still waiting for more to arrive. I've been busy nesting, make our first apartment into 'home' and doing a little exploring of this strange new place, but not much else. The little scene above is from the hallway - a little house thimble I found on ebay filled with tiny things (I have become obsessed with these since I saw this one and this one. I neeeeeed a large one too!), a mini calender from Danita Art on Etsy, a twig pencils with a forest dunny and this...

... a tiny little Ollie dog I found at the weekend to greet you at the door as I couldn't bring the real one.

Its nice to be home

and so nice to be back in blogland too...

Hope to see you soon!

xox

Cake and a catch up number 2...

2010-04-23T18:53:00.000+01:00

Time for another little cake and a catch up...

After a little over a week of unpacking, I'm about ready to start all over again... with the packing that is *sigh*

The little craft room is becoming a travelling workshop of tiny suitcases and a sewing box, both in need of a very strict edit. It's so hard to chose my favouritest of all my favourite fabrics and buttons and what nots and lace! And all the stitched little samples and softies... I'm hoping to hold a quick little going away giveaway next week to find some of these things a lovely new home. Fingers crossed for a productive weekend!

Another thing to be packed away is the little shops as I become a travelling sales bunny. On Monday I will close the little doors for a month as I make my big move, so this will be the last weekend if you did wish to treat yourself to a little something and I will be adding little extra thank you gifts to all orders :-)

I'll be seeing you next week for another catch up and hopefully that giveaway!

Squirrelled away in packing boxes...

2010-04-13T15:00:00.000+01:00

Today is the first of my two house moves.

All is going well and in this little quiet moment I thought I'd say hello and make a little list of my favourite things about here before I go...

Lovely neighbours,

having a little wood at the bottom of the garden

and garden thats always seems sunny (thats just how I'll remember it, probably not too true...)

And the lovely woodland folk who pass by, including my favourite pair of cheeky squirrels...

I couldn't leave without stitching a little momento

See you all soon!

Hope you are having the loveliest day!

Cake and a catch-up...

2010-03-22T15:20:00.000Z

Help yourself to a cup of tea and I'll quickly catch you up...

Since my last little string of posts, I've had quite an exciting time. I became a year older and was spoilt rotten with cake, 3d Alice (oh how fantastic!!) and a surprise trip to the seaside. Most of the spoiling was done by the Boy who arrived home early, and is now home for good...

... and if that wasn't enough it get more exciting!

He is indeed home for good but our home will be changing... twice! I have always lived at home with my parents and we are all about to move to a new house just down the road from where we are now, but very soon after that in May, me and the boy will be making our own home in our own house. A little further away, a little plane ride away in Gibraltar...

I've never been there before but I'm very excited, a little bit scared and still trying to work it all out. I think it will be quite a busy time but hopefully everything will be the same around the little blog here. The little shops will be open for a good long month at least before a short rest to let us move and I know I will have plenty of time for cake and chattering here, if you will join me...

I think that's all my news for now. 2010 is turning out to be quite an interesting wonderful year for me! How's your year going so far?

oh and just a little about my patient Cakie friend who always enjoys a good catch-up. I used couching to whip up that wonderful fluffy frosting which I learnt from the Hand Embroidery Network's Stitch a Day posts. They finished the posts a little while ago but they are the most fantastic reference of stitches with detailed pics and so many ideas how to use them.

Take care and a second cupcake...

Stitching and Dreaming en français..

2010-03-11T17:30:00.000Z

'Les temps sont durs pour les rêveurs'...

...'These times are hard for dreamers'

I am definitely a dreamer.

I could spend all my time daydreaming, making plans and see in the world in my own little way. Thats why I like to stitch and scribble so much. You can spend a day lost in your head, then have a little memento from that dream...

Before I float off again (I'm planning my third day of being lost in a cloud of tea and cake) I tell you a little about that phrase. Its from my favourite film ever, Amelie. I rewatched it a couple of weekends ago and that line just stuck with me. Everytime I hear the line, I smile and sigh...

I've never been able to pinpoint why I can relate to it or what it really means,

but I think it means a lot...

Shy Little Flutter-by...

2010-03-08T22:49:00.000Z

This moonlight loving fellow was going to be fluttering his way into the little shop tonight.

Alas, like so many moths, a pretty light distracted him and he has found a home with my mum instead...

Moth is another idea I had for a stitched pet for your wall like the Ant Farm and the Fish Bowl,

but the poor little thing ended up as a little collector's item with a label...

I've always found butterfly collections fascinating, so pretty and colourful yet fragile and melancholy. There is something a little softer about felt wings and frayed cotton and although not the brightest of flutterers...

...I think I secretly prefer the shy pale colours of dusty moths.

Timely Shamrocks...

2010-03-07T20:20:00.000Z

Felt Shamrock Pin How-to Here

As I didn't give anyone much time to make these Shamrock Pins last St Patrick's day (sharing the day before, indeed!) I thought I would pop them to the top with a whole ten days to stitch...

I have to say thank you to The Beading Gem reminding me!

Hope you're having a nice relaxing Sunday. I have spent mine wrestling flexihoop frames... they put up quite a fight, I'm exhausted! But I do now have no less than four lovely stitch picture all photographed ready for more little shop updating this week, starting with 'We belong together'...

I'm really enjoying stitching these little pictures, it my favourite thing to do right now. If March wasn't going to be such a busy month for me I would have loved to join in with the 39 Squares Stitchalong, the flickr group is just amazing but yesterday's blog square was the best...

picture from here

Too too cute for words...

And Spring brought bunnies...

2010-03-06T16:08:00.000Z

Hello again!

Six blogging days in a row... I'm quietly chuffed with myself

And I have been busy with the stitching as well. The Spring inspired wip has gone from this to...

...these, Bunnikins with a real spring in their step!

Bright eyed and bouquet tailed, ready for all the sunshine and blossoms to come.

And ready for more Bunnikins to come... oh, here they are:

Their Lavender friends adore Spring too but are happy to snooze away the last few chills of winter away. They can't very much help it...

...wrapped in cashmere with a belly full of lavender, who wouldn't be a sleepy thing?

I must admit I have been enjoying Spring through a window myself.

The Bunnikins, both Serene and Spring-y, are in the little shops

(Spring Bunnikins is a little late to etsy but will be hopping in that little shop soon too)

...and the little sleepy heads have already been featured in Natalya's All about Rabbit Treasury. Just look at her bunny egg hats, so cute!!

Hoppy Saturdays!

How to Revive a Pattern on a Felted Sweater...

2010-03-05T18:15:00.000Z

The other day on Craft: there was a really good tutorial about how to felt a sweater so it can be used for your sewing projects. At the end it compared the before and after pics and you can see how the pattern of the sweater gets lost and fuzzy when felted... such a shame!

But I know a way you can revive colour patterns...

Here's a jumper I felted to make crazy patterned something.

The dull fuzzy grey piece on the right is the front of a sweater and how it came out of the washing machine...

and the brighter piece on the left is the back of the same sweater after I revived the pattern. See how much lovelier?

And it's so easy to do...

The pattern becomes all dull and loses it's detail because a layer of 'fuzz' builds up on top of it as the sweater shrinks and felts. The pattern begins to reappear if you carefully shave off some of that fuzz.

I do this with a pair of scissors, opened wide and run along the knit with flat light pressure. Be really careful when you do this, you don't want to cut or catch the knit, just the fuzz and you definitely don't want to catch yourself! ouch!

I found it works best with tighter felted (more shrunk) wool, the thicker the better and has a colour pattern, and its always best to try it on a small corner before diving into the centre of your new found fabric. I've not tried it with a textured pattern like cable, but I'm guessing it won't work too well and would be easy to catch and tear with scissors.

So there is my little crafty tip...

Hope you find it helpful and have the loveliest brightest weekends!

p.s. the needle felt birdie looking on in the second picture is from The Felt Menagerie and he wishes you a chirpy weekend too!

Happy List...

2010-03-04T19:13:00.000Z

In the words of the brilliant Small Object...

print from The Small Object etsy shop

which would make any day awesome all by itself

It really has been a good day for things that make me smile.

There was a wonderful parcel which I can't share yet (its a pressie) but I do have other bits of awesome that I can like...

Flight of the Conchords tickets!

I have mentioned once or twice before that I *love* them... like when I stitched a pair of business socks. In my giddiness of getting my paws on them, I thought I'd share the scribbling page which came before the stitching.

Today's skies and stitches.

The weather has been lovely and Springy and it definitely inspired my stitching.... I had been planning more clouds! Instead the grass green knits and the first little flowers started to appear. I don't know what's made me happier, the sunshine outdoors or the little craft meadow inside. I am back on a bit of a crafty roll too, tomorrow will bring fresh bunnikins to the little shops :-)

And there's been some awesome things to make me smile in blogland too...

picture from here (via Craft)

Postcarden

More green fresh Spring-ness.... A postcard and a garden in one!

Picture from here

Steampunk Bunny watches from Marrianne Handcraft watch Studio

They popped up in the Etsy finds email and hopped straight in my heart. I'm smittened...

See, today is awesome!

Colourful Contents

2010-03-03T20:39:00.000Z

Yesterday I said I was spring cleaning my bag.

After a short pause for sharing, I got back to it only to find a way to make it more fun...

A "Trace the things in your bag" Wreck This Journal page!

Traced, painted and scribbled, all jumbled up just like in my bag. Although there is something cool about lying things out neatly too...

There! All the stuff I've been carrying around minus handfuls of paper receipts, appointment reminders and loose change. And all this bag 'tidying' has reminded me of this wonderful Parisian artist Miss Lecroc who paints gorgeous pictures of the contents of people's bags...

Picture from here

I dream of owning one of these painting!

Anyone else in a bag sharing mood today?

Beautiful Skin

2010-03-02T16:10:00.000Z

Today I decided my bag needed a spring clean.

(I don't want to start too big and scare this cleaning bug away hee hee)

I didn't get very far before I realised I have some long awaited karma to pass on and share...

Beautiful Skin makes the most gorgeous leather cases and cuffs. I've been lusting after them since I saw them a while ago and for his birthday, I bought my brother this fantastic iPod case... isn't it cool?

And the seller is just as lovely! I was their 100th folksy sale and they gave me the best thank you ever... one of their amazing dandelion cases.

And although I feel a bit bad that it's taken me so long to tell you about this lovely things, the timing seems just right as they have some gorgeous new designs... paper cranes and pine cones *swoon*

(all pictures from Beautiful Skin's Folksy and Etsy shops)

March Hares

2010-03-01T15:20:00.000Z

Hello March!

Didn't you appear quick this year?

I've really been looking forward to this month... it will be warmer and brighter, I can wear pretty dresses and make plans, I have my birthday to celebrate and the Boy will be home for good... Hooray! Thank you so much for all your well wishes about my happy news, you are all so lovely!

I'm also looking forward to a big spring clean. Its never so much 'out with the old, in with the new' for me, more a good old dust and finding forgotten treasure. I began this morning and rediscovered a few dresses, made a small mending pile and the washing machine is felting grassy green and lavender cashmere as I type which will make lovely spring Bunnikins. I used to cry when things were shrunk but now it makes me quite happy... Utterly mad I know!

All that chatter and I still haven't introduced my March Hare.

Her name is Olive with an olive green dress and vintage lace trim, made as a special request for a little girl of the same name. She is, of course, more of a bunny than a hare. But with it being March, my plans to spend the rest of the day sewing Bunnikins and all the little bunnies here (me included) being crazy excited about Tim Burton's Alice, we thought we could pretend for the day.

Wish you all a happy fun mad March!

We Belong Together...

2010-02-26T17:20:00.000Z

One of my favourite songs is "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service;

"I am thinking it's a sign that the freckles

In our eyes are mirror images and when

We kiss they're perfectly aligned

And I have to speculate that God himself

Did make us into corresponding shapes like

Puzzle pieces from the clay"

I was listening to it, doodling and little jigsaw pieces appeared with cute eyes and I thought they would make a sweet little stitch picture. Between the page and the linen, their eyes closed and disappeared and the lyrics changed to a very simple...

"We belong together"

I think it says everything it needs to and I like this simpler style... what do you think?

And this gives me a chance to share the really happy news I've been dying to tell...

Me and the Boy are engaged!

He is so amazing and wonderful and at the risk of gushing, we really do belong together.

Happy Weekends to everyone!

*hugs*

Oh and this version of the song is so beautiful, you should hear it...

Happy Moo-day!

2010-02-23T21:25:00.000Z

My monday did not go as planned so I've been having a re-do today, getting all the things I wanted doing done and a few little bits more. I'll share them in a couple of days as well as something that I've been dying to share but has to wait too...

So with the rather bad play on words, I'll introduce you to my cow softie, Moo. A request for gift by a friend, I never would have thought of making cow otherwise but I think he is rather cute. Usually I like to keep things quite simple but I just had to add little things like a chubby mouth, a tinkly bell, cheeky little udders and tiny horns (my favourite part!)... oh and a tail!

I usually forget to add tails, which seems strange when I think how many bunnies I've made!

hmmm...

Happy Moo-day or Tuesday,

which ever you wish to celebrate today I hope it's a lovely day

Following Instruction

2010-02-18T18:57:00.000Z

I adore craft books.

If I could I would start my own library dedicated to craft and spend morning, noon and night taking in all the pretty pictures and clever ideas. I rarely take the time to make things from them though so that's what I planned to do so when sewing presents last year.

"Let's Make Cute Stuff" is where I found the pattern for the cute bunny scarf I shared not too long ago...

Bend the Rules Sewing is an amazing book. It says it for beginners but I found it fantastic in the way you could enjoy reading all the things you thought you knew and learn a more too. Like zips, I hate putting in zips. I missed the college's zip lesson and tried endlessly to teach myself from books, oh it just wouldn't happen! I was defeated and have avoided them ever since... until I read this and Pop! firmly in my head. I followed its instruction to make this cute little make bag, zip and all!

The little bluebird is one of the millions of patterns which came with the Sublime Stitching book, which is the only embroidery book I think I'll ever need. Although that doesn't mean I won't be treating myself to the new one at some point...

I do like to deviate from patterns and to put my own mark on things but I loved how fun these books make it to do as you are told! At the moment my rule is "make something from one book before buying the next" and I've been crocheting away to be able to treat myself to a teach-yourself how to crochet little toys/amigurumi...

Any suggestions would be so helpful!

Three

2010-02-17T20:33:00.000Z

More of those little button flowers...

... and where I stitched them...

... on sweet long strap bags that go across your body a oh-so-long time along back in autumnal days.

I have discovered three is indeed my magic number.

I like my things in threes like flowers and biscuits with tea

and three is the most fun amount to stitch bags in too.

The first is fun and challenging,

The second is fun and a time to learn,

The third is fun and just right.

Then I need a change...

But sooner or later my fingers will always want to sew another three.

Heart Felt Flowers from me to you...

2010-02-14T17:29:00.000Z

Happy Valentine's!

Hope everyone is having a lovely day celebrating Love in all its ways.

And to help you celebrate I have a little how-to gift for you of a bunch of Heart Felt Flowers. They are super easy peasy to make and look so pretty.

You need:

a little square of fabric and a 4" hoop

a little red felt

some black and red embroidery floss

a needle and a pencil

Pop your fabric in the hoop and using this as a guide (print it out from here if you like to use it as a pattern), draw three stems in the middle of piece. Stitch them with 2-3 strands of black floss in backstitch.

Cut 1 large (3cm) heart and 2 small (2cm) hearts from red floss. Place them at the top of the stems, the large heart in the middle...

Then stitch along the centre of hearts with red floss backstitch. Give them a little pinch together to make your hearts all a-flutter... and there you have your Heart Felt Flowers.

They look cute in a hoop but you could use them as little embellishments on anything. And you don't have to use felt hearts...

Buttons are cute too (and more washable for popping on pockets)...

...or craft pom poms make fluffy blooms

(very inspired by the wool pom pom dandelions which I made following this wonderful tutorial)

Have a lovely day filled with heart and flowers and the people you love

xox

My Old Valentine...

2010-02-12T18:24:00.000Z

I just found one of last year's Valentines Notes printable freebies while having a tidy so I thought I'd remind you that they are still around for any love notes you may wish to write.

Mollie tagged me on Flickr for a bit of photo fun where you take a pic of yourself as soon as you realise you're tagged. I'm extremely camera shy, I don't think I've ever put my pic on here before but I thought it would be fun to do something different (and a little scary for me) so I did. If you want to join in you can go to my flickr and consider yourself tagged! :)

In my pic I'm actually stitching... Hooray, the craft clog is easing! It's a little heart felt thingy I'm going to share on Valentine's day...

Memory like a...

2010-02-11T19:35:00.000Z

...Goldfish!

I've stumbled upon some things I had forgotten to share. Like this little fish bowl embroidery which I made at the same time as the Ant Farm.

I'm liking the idea of little pets for your wall so I'm trying to think up some more.... It's on my to-do which is so full I struggling to chose what to do first and has caused a little craft clog.

Lucky for you, I found enough fish brain forgotten things to keep pretty pics coming your way.

Happy Thursdays!

(pretty sure it's Thursday.... hmmm)

The Big Lovely Snail Mail Reveal...

2010-02-07T19:20:00.000Z

At last, I have my completed Snail Mail page to share as well as a super big Thank you,

because you helped me go from this...

to this...

It's so amazing how kind and generous you all were, I never imagined I would have this many stamps for my little project. I used every single one you send and, look...

Completely full! Not a space to spare!

I love my journal page, this is definitely my favourite and I can't see how any other could top it ever! And its all because of you wonderful bloggy friends. You can go over to this pic on my flickr to spot your stamps (I've added notes to make it easy) and here is a lovely list of all the lovely sites of all the lovely people who made my lovely page:

Natasha of Natty Bum Bum

Bex of Stuffed Nonsense

Leanna of Bird on a Pencil

Bunzi of Bunny Creates

Hannah of Span's Stitches

Mollie of Wild Olive

Jess of Rainbow Sweet Stitch

Patricia of Crafty and Artsy Giveaways

Becky of Strumpet's Crumpet

Casey of Randomness

Patty of Pip Stitch

Thank you all so much!

Hope you are enjoying the most wonderful of weekends

Nice things and accidental helpers...

2010-02-04T00:11:00.000Z

As I've been doing my stamp-sticking-in-thing, I've come across a few from parcels of handmade goodies I've bought over the past few months and I thought it would be cool to share...

First is this amazing print from Reap What I Sew. I love it because its so simple and just has the sweetest sentiment "Its nice to be nice" I try to live by that biscuity motto everyday

Lily the Owl is one of the fantastic Skunkboy Creatures, my birthday gift from the Boy last year and the little swan prince is a tree ornament I picked up this year.

picture from here

I found these cute little fabric jar wraps from The Cotton Potter. They really are the cleverest little things turning old tins and used jam jars into sweet little vases, making them the perfect size for little garden bouquets. I gave this to my Mum but I'm so smitten with the cotton jugs I may have to treat myself too...

picture from here

And finally a perfect papercut from Storey Shop. I love all the 'I love you more than...' cards, I was spoilt for choice when I could declare I love the Boy more than tea, cake or Etsy... all very big statements in each of them but 'chips' has a special meaning to us, a very long nonsensical story...

Oooh its fun sharing finds!

I hadn't forgotten, I promise...

2010-01-31T15:14:00.000Z

I have my last two piece of Snail mail to share with you today...

Fun, bright 'Celebrate!' stamps from Patty of Pip Stitch. I love these!

And I love the card she sent...

...with its darling little Ollie dogs. I do find my Ollie asleep with his chin on my laptop, I thought it was the warmth but perhaps he is online dating :) Patty was one of my first ever bloggy friends and although she is taking a break from blogging for a while (hope its not too long, I'll miss you!) you should still visit her blog as she is the most amazing finder of goodies, especially cute projects and embroidery patterns.

Thank you Patty!

My very last Snail mail stamps came from the lovely Casey of Randomness. I am sorry its take me so long to post your gorgeous Christmas card, I really do wish I could keep it up all year! Lucky for me and very sweetly of Casey, she made me a crochet snowflake which I will be staying in my craftroom whatever the season...

Isn't it pretty? This post here shows how Casey decorated her home with them and you have to see the crochet tree halfway down... I need to have one next Christmas! And take a look at her Friday Flickr finds too... so pretty and inspiring :)

Thank you Casey!

I never realised quite how long this snail mail project was taking me until I took the picture of the lovely Christmas cards. I never meant to drag my feet on this one but just take the time to say proper thank you and put my page together with care and love as it deserves after all your kindness. And that what I am doing this afternoon...

...I can't wait to show you the finished page!

Hope you weekend is lovely

The Teacup of Randomness...

2010-01-28T20:39:00.000Z

Today we have a had a little afternoon tea in your honour.

By 'we' I of course mean myself and all the little Cakies I could find and by 'tea' I mean paper tea from the teacup of randomness which holds all your names...

Under the watchful eyes of all the cakies I stirred the tea and picked out the name...

Hooray!

I get to stitch a Cakie friend for Mollie :)

Please let me know which kind of cake you would like and your colour choice by emailing me and I'll stitch your Cakie up straight away

Thank you so much to everyone who helped me celebrate my little blog's birthday, it was so lovely of you and I had so much fun reading your comments. I hope you all enjoy your little Cheery Cherry Cake Printables as my little thank you to each and everyone of you...

You are great

Back and sharing cake...

2010-01-27T21:52:00.000Z

Hello!

I'm back from my little holiday, hope everyone had a lovely couple of weeks while I was gone :)

Tomorrow I will be picking a winner for my little blog birthday Cakie giveaway, if you haven't put your name in the teacup of randomness yet you can pop here and do so before midday.

And since I've had you waiting such a long and quiet time, I thought I would treat you all to a little bit of cakie fun to keep you going...

Cheery Cherry Cake Printables!

As Cheery Cherry Cake likes to celebrate any occasion, any day and every day, these little printables can be used as cute gift tags, a lovely little garland or as teeny tiny notes to give to friend to say "Hooray, its Wednesday!" and I always love to hear any other ideas you have for them...

You can find them here to download and print, then just cut each out and fold along the centre line. I hope you enjoy them!!

Blogiversary Cake (and a little giveaway!)

2010-01-10T16:57:00.000Z

My little blog is 2 years old!

And what better way to celebrate than with cake...

...and cake is the reason I can celebrate!

Just before I started this little blog, I started crafting. I had always made little things and tried new ways, taken art class and learn to sew but I know there was a certain moment where this, this little adventure, all began.

For some reason I can't remember, I bought a few pieces of felt and a handful of embroidery thread knowing I want to make a cupcake. And I did this little cupcake here...

Its not perfect. I keep thinking I'll replace one day, make the perfect felt cupcake but I probably won't because I love what this one started. This little cake meant when I had the urge to sew something, I did it and I kept wanting to sew every time I saw it. I was so proud of this cupcake I showed it to people which led to the opportunity to sell and share these little things. It started my blog, my shops, friendships and lots of happiness. I am very happy with who I am today because of all I have acheived as a crafty person, and this little cake started that.

The cake may have started it, but this blog has also given me so much more than I could have imagined. A lots of the happiness comes from sharing, being part of something and that isn't really the cupcake or the blog itself but you friends who take the time to visit, if you're sweet enough to follow or just stop by the once and I am so thankful for you.

As you know when I am feeling particularly lucky because of you guys, I like to do a little giveaway to say thank you. Today is definitely one of those days and this time I would like to stitch someone a little cakey friend.

You can pick the colours and whether you would like a Happy the birthday cake, a Baby cake or a Cheery cherry cake softie.

All you have to do is leave a comment below and because I am taking a two week blog break starting any day now (things have been delayed because of the snow) I will leave this open until my return around the 27th, when I'll do the random number picker thing.

Thank you for a lovely two years!

Mickey Mail

2010-01-08T16:41:00.000Z

More fantastic Snail mail, Hooray!

This lovely lot is from the fantastic Becky of Strumpets Crumpets. As well I giving me a longing for some monogrammed note paper (love that 'B'), there are lovely polar bear stamps and she was so sweet to send me a Christmas card to with her little Mickey on the front... he is adorable!! Becky did a tutorial for how she made the Mickey on the cards fluffy with flocking here. I need to try that :)

Thank you so much Becky!

In my last Snail mail post, Nutmeg the Snail was taking a little break and I realised I never properly introduced the tiny fellow who took her place in the pic.

So here he is...

Meet 'Plump', a gentlefellow who does not mind a bit if you ask him to sit in the snow will you take his photo as long as he is allowed hot chocolate and marshmallows in a mug three times his size. Its not hard to find that mug for him as he is teeny tiny... a mini Plump from the wonderful Stuffed Nonsense Folksy shop.

I best get that hot chocolate made before Plump turns any bluer...

Thanks to everyone who sent me Snail Mail, more pics soon

Here's to another Bunny Year...

2010-01-05T23:33:00.000Z

"Hello New Year"

said the funny looking rabbit who sat in the corner

Dear Rabbit, I said, is it not a little late to be welcoming the year?

No, said Rabbit, not if you haven't already.

Oh, said I, then Happy 2010!

Now I hoping Rabbit's strange cuteness will mean you forgive me for taking so long to wish you all the happiest year filled with Love and happiness. I haven't quite gotten out of the holiday mood and the loviness of being cosy and quiet (as well as a little lazy) has stayed with me. I have good reason for that though, I will be celebrating a late little Xmas with the Boy next week as he is finally on leave!

Hoorah Hooray! Whoopee and Yay!

I can hardly think of anything else at the minute - my brain has turned to excited mush! I haven't been stitching or scribbling, just preparing. But before Christmas I was quite busy making gifts, of which this strangely long Rabbit was one.

She is a Long Doll Scarf from the Aranzi Aronzo "Cute Stuff" book and I've been wanting to make one for ageees. This year (oh last year hee hee) she was the perfect present for a little girl I know and I just couldn't resist! Those mouths are so cute, they remind me of tiny moustaches and the book does have the cutest instructions... it really lives up to its name :)

I'm going to try my hardest to post a couple more crafty gifts and more of your lovely stamps before the weekend when I disappear for a little while.

Hope your year is treating you well!

I really do think this will be the best year yet...

Goodbye 2009...

2009-12-31T21:05:00.001Z

It's been a very good year...

...full of Love...

...and magic...

...and very good friends!

Thank you to everyone who made my year special! Everyone who supported my little shops, sent stamps and left lovely comments, you all made my year...

Hope you all have wonderful evenings and 2010 brings you all the love and magic you wish for!

Love and Hugs

Jenny

'Twas the night after Christmas

2009-12-26T20:28:00.000Z

Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and is enjoying an equally merry lazy holiday weekend.

Love, hugs and Christmas Wishes

Jenny

You have to make these!

2009-12-21T18:05:00.000Z

Homemade marshmallows are the scrummiest!

They are hands down tastier and meltier than ones from packets and they are just the best!

I was half expecting to have to come back and say 'We shall not talk about the marshmallows...' It usually takes me a couple of tries to get the thing I was supposed to end up with, but these really worked first time. I now think everyone should go and make them... you have to!

I used this recipe, which is for 12 larger marshmallows which is insanely large sized as I managed to get 50+ regular sized pieces (though I did use a longer oblong tray as well). Plenty enough to fill a sugar jar and create a Marshmallow mountain...

...which I must say from looking at these pictures has quickly become a marshmallow mole hill!

hmmm... I'm sure I only had a couple :)

Snow and Pie Puffs

2009-12-20T16:07:00.000Z

It's been all Christmassy and we have had a good layer of white stuff fall...

I didn't think to take a pic until the thaw had really began and I didn't feel like venturing to the deeper snow to get a really good one today... its so cold outside! Instead there's the garden and all the footprints of the birds, squirrels and my little dog, who has been having a marvellous time decorating his ears with snowballs. As it hasn't been safe for me to take my tiny car out, I have been hidden away. Which isn't too bad as I finished my gifts as the snow came and all my parcels are sent so I can do some homely Xmas things...

...like decorate the fireplace while watching movies and fill the house with Christmas cooking. Once I post this I'm making snowy cupcakes, white chocolate and coconut with little deer on the top , and later I'm going to try to make marshmallows! I love marshmallows with hot chocolate and I've heard homemade ones are the best so I had to see for myself. I'll probably drink hot chocolate while nibbling on these little mince pie puffs I make every year.

They are much lighter than mince pies, almost bitesize... two or three bites at the most and so easy to make. I first made them years ago when I wanted to bake mince pies but didn't have the proper ingredients and was feeling too lazy to go to the shop to get them so I used what was to hand with happen to be ready roll puff pastry and mixed dried fruit. I've tweaked it and now I make them like this:

In a bowl I place all the dried fruit I have about. Whatever you like really... this year it was a bag of raisins, a packet of dried cranberries, a tub of mixed peel and some chopped glace cherries... I love putting red and yellow fruits in as it makes it looks festive. I put in a couple of good big tablespoons of sugar and a couple of teaspoons of mixed Xmas spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, etc) to just coat all the fruit before half a cup of orange juice and a good swig of brandy. I leave the fruit to soak up all the juice and just keep added juice, brandy or spice if I think it needs it. Once the fruit is plump and juicy with a tiny bit of syrup at the bottom of the bowl and it smells like Xmas, its ready.

I then take a packet of puff pastry and roll it out (I do it in two halves rather than the whole pack) Cut into smallish squares and make tiny slits like in the pic to make a lattice pattern. I can make 16 from half a packet.

In the centre of each square, I put a heaped teaspoon of the fruit and then bring the corners of the pastry together and squeeze to close into a parcel. Place cut side up on a baking tray and brush with egg and sprinkle with sugar before baking in a hot oven for 10-15 mins until the pastry is cooked.

Eat at least two before calling others to say they are ready :)

I'm sure this isn't my idea but I've never used a recipe for it so I thought I'd share. I can't really tell you about any of the other things I've been making as they are all presents (and need to be secret for a little while longer) and I just love to share! Thank you so much for all the lovely comments about the Sweet Snowman tags. I had the sweetest message from Meninheira saying she had made them into this sweet garland and I hope everyone else is enjoying them too!

Make a Sweet Snowy Garland

2009-12-14T23:17:00.000Z

I thought of something cute to do with the Sweet Snowman printables...

...there they are at the bottoms and tops...

...with snowflakes and hearts...

... as Sweet Snowy garlands!

Last Christmas I decorated the hall with a curtain of paper snowflakes. They were lovely and big and I planned to make more, and as I was sat with my Snowmen and ribbons and buttons and pens and paper and well, everything supply I could think of, I had this idea...

First I cut out my Sweet Snowman gift tags which I printed on plain old paper and then little hearts from red paper (they are 4cm (1.5") and I cut 10)...

...then with the plain old paper I cut some 11cm (4") sqaures and snipped them into pretty snowflakes. I think most people remember how to do this from school but in case you need a little nudge (I did!)

*Fold your square diagonally in half and then again and once more*

*Snip little bits out of the sides carefully*

*Unfold*

*Play around until you have pretty paper snow*

I took my six Snowmen, 10 hearts and 8 snowflakes and lay them out on the floor in the order I would stitch them... snowman then heart, snowflake, heart... and a snowman on the bottom. You can put them however you think is prettiest and as long as you like but do put a snowman a the bottom of each...

Then I forgot to take a photo of them being stitched on the machine and of course you could sew them by hand. I'd use a long thread and stitch top and bottom of each piece with extras in the middle when needed...

*Pull a long thread tail through the foot (this will be your string to tie your garlands up later)

*With your first Snowman tag open, stitch through his back...

*Once the paper has gone through, keep tension on the thread and do a couple of stitches (this makes your gap)

*Sew through a heart...

*stitch a gap...

*Sew through a snowflake...

*stitch a gap...

*Once your last in the line of hearts and snowflakes is stitched, sew half way down the back of another open snowman.

*Fold the Snowmen and glue them closed. The double thickness and a bit of glue will act like a bit of weight and hold the garlands straighter... see there is a reason :)

Make as may as you like and hang them everywhere!

My snipping made 3 garlands which are now hung between the banisters of the stairs, but they look good hung together from the ceiling too...

If anymore does make a garland, I'd love to hear!

I'll be trying to make more to fill the stairs every time I settle in to a Xmas movie... I think I'll need a lot of movies!

Festive Freebie

2009-12-11T00:01:00.000Z

As promised a little Xmas cheer for all to share...

Sweet Snowman Folded Gift Tags for you!

Just download and print the page from my Flickr here

I've been printing them on to thin white card and using them on my pressies and parcels but they would a look cute hanging on the Christmas tree (just add a blob of glue to stop them unfolding).

I'm also thinking they would make a fun garland so I'm off to play with paper, felt and ribbons to see if I can come up with a little project you could make this weekend.

I've been watching Kirstie's Homemade Christmas Home and it gotten me in such a festive crafty mood. I've been secretly stitching gifts all week and have began to gather yummy treats for baking. If you are sharing Christmassy goodies and projects or have found some fantastic ones about your travels through blogland, I love to hear about them :)

And the winner t'is...

2009-12-07T22:06:00.000Z

I am saying "T'is" way too much and there quite incorrectly... there is some christmassy about it in a Dicken's kind way. Just one last time, then I promise to be more carefully with them...

T'is time for the random picker to a lucky name for the Santa Sack goodies!

And the picker picked...

Comment number 3 which was...

Laurie Anne

Please email me your address and which Flatie and Pin you would like and I'll get them in the post in time to join you for Christmas

Thank you to everyone who joined in, its so much fun to hear where everyone is from and all your brilliant ideas for what to make with the fabric, I may have to stitch up a couple of things myself... after I work out a little Xmas 'gift' for everyone, of course! In a couple of days there will be a little something waiting for you here...

And speaking of projects, it been a while since I share how my stamp journal page is going and I feel a little bad about that as you were all so generous...

These are the very last of the Stamp pins as I now have plenty of stamps to fill my page Hoorah!

I can't say thank you enough for helping me out with this slightly loopy little project. I'm waiting for the perfect quiet day to sit and do something special with all your stamps as gluing them in willy nilly just doesn't seem right. It will be soon... in a moment of pre christmas calm and I'll share them straight away. I'm sure I won't be able to contain myself :)

I still have many Thank yous to say and pics to share before then like...

...These wonderful stamps from Patricia. They are bright and colourful and from so so so far away... Patricia was so kind to send them all the way from Argentina! I was absolutely gobsmacked to receive them! Thank you so much Patricia!!

Don't you just love how everyone is a neighbour in blogland?

T'is the Season Giveaway!!

2009-12-03T20:19:00.000Z

T'is indeed the time for a Chrismas Giveaway and here is a bunch of goodies for you...

A Mini Santa sack filled with:

Two Sweet Snowman Softie Baubles

Four Christmas cuties folded gift tags

A set of Snowbunny Notecards and printed bauble

and a fabric bundle tied in a bow...

The fabric bundle has twelve 7" squares of fabric including my gocco printed gingerbread sweethearts and a snowbunny, red and green felt, spots, checks, teddy tartan, heart, faux bois, stars, tiny trees and 2 metres of gingerbread lollipop ribbon (Theres a pic here if you fancy a closer look). All tied up with a metre each of white hearts and red ribbon.

...and finally a Flatie bauble and felt pin of your choice from the little shop!

If you would like this little sack of treats, leave a comment below... just a hello or something Xmassy or what you might do with the fabric, I'd love to hear your ideas!

I will pick a random name out late in the evening next Monday the 7th December. I'm happy to send it to anyone anywhere* so the more the merrier!

Lucky Wishes!

*I have been a little unlucky in my planning of this that I have missed the recommend Xmas post date for some part of the world - most places outside of Europe and North America I'm afraid. The parcel may arrive a little late for Christmas but I wouldn't want that to stop you from joining in :)

"We Tree Things,

2009-12-01T20:36:00.000Z

Look good on gifts too..."

As much as I wish I could, I will not make a sing-a-long blog.

It is December and I am feeling very 'T'is the season' today... 'We Three Kings' is playing a merry loop in my head, my tea is in a santa mug and I have Christmas pud in the fridge. The pud is actually leftover from the fauxmas dinner I had on Sunday with my Grandparents who are going away for the real thing. I know the idea was to celebrate but I was a little bah humbug about it being November... What a difference 2 days can make!

Anyways, I have been planning a little Holiday offer for the little shops and today was photo day. What a difference your tips made! White sheets really bounce at bit more light in there (Thanks Emme!) and photoshop is a squillion times better than what I've been using (Thanks Flora!) I was having more problems with backgrounds for snowman so I grabbed the presents I'd wrapped this morning for the Boy to use as props and found the Flatie baubles and felt pins looked incredibly cute as tags for decorating gifts too!

In the little shops, you can now get Three Tree Baubles sets and Matching pin and baubles sets at special "T'is the season" prices...

And I've gotten rid of all my second item shipping cost, now you just pay shipping on the biggest item... Hurrah!

And I'm gift-wrapping everything! Just because I love this paper and I love my shoppers.

Merry December Everybody!

Paper Bunnies

2009-11-30T19:01:00.000Z

As I was wrapping up some parcels, I noticed quite a few little bunnies had appeared...

They was the little Bunnikins gift tags which like to travel the world with the shop bunnies as a tiny Thank you to all the people who come to visiting us. We do love visitors over there, everyone gets a thank you, a bow and a bunny note...

...oh I spy more new bunnies on notepaper too!

These are just for my little scribbles, though I'm thinking of a second print run for the little shop.

I'd forgotten all about them! I was only going to share the tags and these...

I got new Moo!

I love Moo. I am still smitten with mini cards, I don't think I'll ever want a normal sized business card while this little guys are around (especially with their cute boxes)... and I'm falling quickly for their sticker books too! Tiny glossy stickers for everything! I'm just itching for an excuse to buy more :)

If you have been wanting to give them a go, I have a two codes for 15% off your first order I can pass on, just let me know if you want one. You can make anything with them - mini cards, stickers, notecards and Christmas cards too.

I have lots to do tonight, though I struggle to remember what. I think one of the things I've been meaning to do is write a to do list, so I'll probably do that first. Oh, to be an organised person...

Happy Mondays!

Antsy

2009-11-27T21:23:00.000Z

As a kid, I wanted many weird and wonderful pets.

An ant farm was always high on my list.

I loved the patterns the tunnels made between the glass and to see all the tiny ants busying themselves.

I never had my own ant farm. The idea of an escape meant I wasn't allowed one and I get all tickled by the thought of ants in a picnic so it was probably for the best. Luckily I don't have to worry about that with these little flossy ones.

Happy Holidays!

2009-11-26T20:42:00.000Z

Looking around old blogland, I noticed today is Thanksgiving for a lot of you.
We don't celebrate it over in the little old UK but I have always thought it sounds like a wonderful holiday idea and as I have much to be thankful for, I thought I would share a little bit of holiday cheer and love.

I'm so thankful that everyone I care about is safe and loved.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day

Spooky Mail

2009-11-20T17:27:00.000Z

Any minute now I'm running off up North for a weekend away, but first I had to share some snail mail...

This little bundle of spooky goodness came from Jess of Rainbow Sweet Stitch. Jess was the winner of my trick or treat goodie parcel and in return she sent me Halloween goodies too :)

What with all the Christmas crazy going on around here, I didn't have a chance to make anything with the cool fabric patches... a spooky cat, bat and my favourite pumpkin but they are safely stowed to make into a cute decoration next year. You can see the awesome things Jess made with the patches on her blog and in her fantastic etsy shop.

My favourite thing of all was this super cute card with a candy corn who tastes like death! I Love him!!

We don't have candy corn over in the UK but I am so tempted to try some now. I guess they taste more like gummy sweets than death though, right?

Best dash, I'm being told to get in the car...

Thank you so much Jess!

and I hope everyone has lovely weekends

Oh and I love to know where the card came from... I think Santa needs to bring me some :)

Winter Puds

2009-11-18T21:51:00.000Z

Tonight I had a desperate longing for a warm winter pudding.

As I was up to my elbows in butter and sugar whipping up a super quick cherry crumble, I remember I had another Pudding I was needing to share (not that I wanted to share my crumble... hee hee)

This little flatie fellow is the warmest of all the winter pud. Rich, fruit stuffed, brandy soaked Christmas Pudding... yummm my favourite! My family will tell you that not a year has gone by where I haven't had seconds of Xmas pud, thirds some years... and if I must be completely honest, I even buy one straight after Christmas to go in the cupboard and be eaten on a cold March evening.

And keeping with my personal tradition of seconds, I just had to have another year of these cuties. These Flatie and pins are bringing their Xmas cheer to the little shops, and are keeping last year's fat little softie Puddings company although teasing them a little about being 'leftovers' :)

Now who wants some figgy pudding?

Sunday Snippets

2009-11-15T22:51:00.000Z

Lazy snippets of a lazy day...

...sat curled under the blanket as I sew it. Fifty nine squares strangely stitched together, just over half way there...

...and look at the left hand side - sun for my Sunday! Thank you so much to everyone for the photo tips and for the comfort of knowing I'm not the only one beaten by a grey day :)

As I have gone onto bright things that make you smile... I was planning to put more granny squares together tonight but I spotted Hannah's journal and I am now itching to do something cheerful to mine. I have a page to share from a few weeks back but I can't remember for the life of me where its hung. Here's a sneak peek:

And absolutely unrelated in every way except for it being something that made me super happy. I found my new favourite place yesterday...

picture vogue.co.uk

Anthropologie London

so lovely it feels like I dreamt it all now...

Happy Sundays

Snowmen in my Sketchbook

2009-11-13T20:51:00.001Z

Quite literally there are tiny Sweet Snowmen hiding in there...

Bunny fancied a change from her Snowbunnies and thought she'd make her first Snowman. I think she did quite well!

And over the page...

... a much larger friend for her!

I have very miserable wintery weather here. No snow, but lots of rain, blustery winds and the greyest of grey light making photo taking a nightmare! The poor Sweet Snowmen are exhausted from no less than 6 days of photo shoots (as am I). We tried many backgrounds... white, green, spotted, trees, Russian, craft brown and scribbles, and finally we have a selection of pics for the little shops.

Phew!

Now I know you are a clever bunch with some very pretty pictures... any tips for someone suffering with miserable light?

Stitchy Snail Mail

2009-11-12T20:14:00.000Z

Now I have started the christmas posts, I can share Christmas stamps...

Hoorah!

Snowflakes, a Nutcracker and my favourite... Santa baubles!!

How wonderful are they? I hope I spy some real ones as I do my shopping!

The Santa stamps brought snail mail and stitches! The wonderful Mollie of Wild Olive was so generous and sent some of her cute characters as little fabric patches. The pink fellow is Stitchy Floss from the Make. Do. Create Crafty Characters embroidery set. She is definitely one for the inspiration board!

The cutest paper plane, Popular Paper Air Mail. This was a free pattern for the Wild Olive Mailing A-list. You can sign up in the left hand side bar of her blog and you really should, Mollie is so good to us followers!!

And there was a peek of him above, but I quickly set to work...

On-the-go Coffee from the Take Me Out embroidery set as a cute painting.

I have a little get-you-in-the-xmas-spirit coffee gift to send to the boy and I knew this would make the perfect gift tag. With the sewing machine, I stitched the painting to a craft paper gift tag then hand stitched the words "Drink and be Merry!" and a little border before adding a bow. I think he is going to love it more than the gift!

Mollie has loads of ideas of things to do with embroidery. In fact she has a series of posts called "Things to do with Embroidery" which would make great handmade presents this Christmas. All the embroidery patterns and many more can be found in her Wild Olive Etsy shop as well as lovely paper printables and until the 15th of November all the sales will go towards making World Vision Caregivers Kits so now is the time to visit...

Thank you so much Mollie!

The Elves are back...

2009-11-11T23:12:00.000Z

Winter woolies and bobble hats at the ready!

It's cold outside and I can't denied it any longer...

I have little tree standing in the corner,

green and red,

inspired by elf hats,

a jingle bell on a curly top

and a present underneath...

It isn't just a tree, it's a Christmas tree...

but I don't feel the eek that it's come too soon,

it just makes me smile...

As much as I tried to think of something new, my sketchbook filled with curly topped Elf trees.

I loved last year's so much I couldn't help it. They stayed long after Christmas, but there is something cuter about these that makes me think a new desktop forest will appear.

Plumper and brighter and somehow cheerier...

what do you think?

Home for life

2009-11-09T18:30:00.000Z

I believe gingerbread is not just for Christmas and so this is still not one of those posts. In a couple of days my posts will be seasonal though... you have been warned so bring along a mug of mulled wine and a bobble hat to help with all that!

This Gingerbread Home was stitched up as a custom order. I made my first gingerbread house last year and I always meant to make more of them, so this was fun! My favourite part is the candy roof, so many pretty stitches and felt candies up there...

I'd love to make more of these...

But while I wait for requests, I have some ready made Gingerbread Homes waiting in the little shop s.

Flatie Baubles with red and green candies for hanging around your home

*whispers* or on the tree

And super cute mini Gingerbread Homes to pin to yourself!

I can't wait to wear mine!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

2009-11-07T00:14:00.000Z

...nope! I'm not going to say it just yet,

but I have been busy in that way...

I've had the print gocco out and made a new set of Gingerbread Sweethearts.

This year's are a shimmering golden gingerbread and I hand tied and stitched real bows on each mistletoe sprig... I am quite smitten with my Sweethearts!

I also had a prolonged label making marathon, in which I learnt a valuable lesson. If you work on nine photoshop files at the same time, you should probably save them at least once because the computer will crash and you will lose four hours work... silly Jenny! But straight back to it I went and it was worth it. Cute labels and tags for all!

Hoorah!

The Snowbunnies also had a second print and new labels but this time as cute wintery note sets.

All the cards are in the little shops, as well as some other seasonal pieces.

Its definitely beginning to look a lot like a certain holiday over there...

A Written Education

2009-11-03T22:20:00.000Z

Hurrah! More lovely stamps!

This wonderful snail mail came from lovely Hannah of Span's Stitches. As well as a lovely note and some cute stickers, she popped in a handful of great British stamps. Quite literally British greats...

From top to bottom:

Samuel Johnson - writer of The Dictionary of the English Language

Sir Martin Ryle - Radio Astronomer who help with the Big Bang Theory

and

My favourite - Mary Quant's Mini Skirt from the British Design Classics

I forgot that about the fancy edition stamps so I got a couple myself to send out to other Journal Wreckers...

My postie also had the Eminent Britons and picked out Mary Wollstonecraft, an early feminist and the mother of Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein.

While completely geeking out researching my stamps I found this page where you can see all the fancy editions from the past few years and something that made me so giddy...

How to make your own stamps with your own photos!!

How fantastic is that!!

Thank you Hannah!

Halloween Jumble...

2009-10-30T19:20:00.000Z

'Tis the night before Halloween and I have a couple of things to share...

I finally remembered to get a picture of the Pumpkin Mini Garland in my window, much better to see them hanging I think. And it was lovely to see them and the treat bag on the wonderful DIY blog,

One Pretty Thing...

This is a link I definitely should have shared sooner as you will want to get making the things you find there straight away! If you don't know of One Pretty Thing already, it is a wonderful collection of craft, food and decor tutorials all put in one place. Rachel arranges the daily posts by theme and the Halloween ones have been amazing!! Its always my first stop when someone asks if I know a pattern or a tutorial... I have pointed so many friends this way I'm surprised I have sent you over there sooner too!

A tutorial I found through One Pretty Things was this one for Monty Pythons' Chocolate Crunchy Frogs. I made these a while ago for my Dad's birthday... but I was remind when he mentioned they would make good Halloween treats. I think someone wants me to make more which isn't too surprising as they tasted really good! The tutorial is chocolate covered gummy haribo frogs with popping candy. I struggled to find many frogs in my packets so I used the sugary foamy apples as well and you couldn't tell the difference in shape and they had a bit more crunch! I've since found you can buy a bag of frogs and all the other ingredients at this wonderful old fashioned online sweet shop...

And it wouldn't be Halloween without something a little spooky...

Le Petite Oiseau shared a link to this set of old black and white Halloween photos. All the old costumes are amazing to look through and the skulls at the beginning of the set are so cleverly done. I do love old photos especially ones that look a little ghostly. These are a couple I found recently...

An old theatre postcard... I love the moustached man in the middle the most but there is some strangely eerie about the group...

A Xmas ghost... if you look closely (click to make it larger) there are three people in the bottom right corner and you can see straight through the couple under the umbrella.

Thats about as spooky as I can bear hee hee

Have a Happy Halloween!

I'll have to go make my pumpkin to share with you tomorrow...

Mail by Snail

2009-10-28T22:24:00.000Z

Ooh I popped off there for a little unexpected trip North but I am back now and I came home to some lovely snail mail...

My first international snail mail from Leanna in Canada!

Canada has the 2010 Olympic games and the stamp has the cutest little hockey player. I am not a sporty person so for me to say this is cute makes it super cute indeed! She also added a sweet little bird and mushroom which will be going on my inspiration board as soon as it has the tidy up it really does need. You can visit Leanna at Bird on a Pencil, a cosy crochet blanket of a blog filled with yarn and pretty finds. Thank you so much Leanna!

My second snail mail is from Bunzi and is from far away too...

Now I know I am supposed to be collecting stamps but I am quite smitten with your letter paper too and this one really made me smile. Along the top of the page, a line of sweet little bunnies with carrots and stars and post boxes... they are just too cute! Bunzi blogs at Bunny creates and she is taking a bit of a crafty break to be Mummy to her adorable little girl, but I really hope she will be thinking of making stationary one day... Who doesn't need little bunnies in their post box?

I have more snail mail to share but I'd like to spread it out a little so I can say a proper bloggy thank you to everyone. The stamp badges are being posted one by one on daily walks to the little red post box so most are on their way and if I have received your snail mail then your Stamp is definitely on its way to you. Unfortunately the good old British Postie is having a couple of slower days this month so please be patience... it really may be snail mail

Thanks again everyone!

A Good Reason to Treat Yourself...

2009-10-22T19:32:00.000+01:00

There is a brilliant craft forum Crafter...oo! They are a friendly bunch and there is just about every crafty thing you can think of going on, you should pop over and take a look for yourself!

They are also a very generous bunch and have opened a Folksy shop to raise money for Children in Need filled with crafty pieces made by members.

Crafter...oo! Children in Need Shop

Its a very good cause, helping make a positive change to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. All the money raised will go to the cause as the lovely Folksy folk have waived the fees. If you are new to Folksy, it is a place for UK crafters to sell to all over the world. It is very easy to register and simple to use, so go treat yourself for a good cause!

Find out more about Children in Need here

Tears

2009-10-21T23:11:00.000+01:00

Hmmm...

Between "The holiday I have perhaps mentioned too much" and spending most of the past few days stitching treats for "The holiday that will be mentioned too soon", my little head is a little to full to think of things to mention...

So mindless wrecking it is!

The 4th page of my Wreck this Journal with the instruction:

"Tear strips Rip it up!"

My first actual wrecking act on the thing (not including the lame attempt to break it spine) and it was so much easier than I thought. I loved ripping the page! Mwah ha ha...

And I also enjoyed colouring it in in a more genteel way...

'Tear' used been a funny word for me. We must learn to place it automatically in sentences, but my first thoughts on seeing it always seems to be the other tear as in crying teardrops.

That will never help you open a carton of orange juice...

And just because I'm interested... how did you read the title?

Ripping or Crying?

Eeeek! All the pins from "The holiday I have perhaps mentioned too much" are now half price in the little shops if you fancy a cheap little treat...

Stitch Yourself a Halloween Treat Bag

2009-10-19T21:43:00.000+01:00

A little Halloween How-to for making a Pumpkin Treat Bag to fill with your favourite spooky candy!

This takes about 30 mins start to finish with the sewing machine but you can easily hand stitch it.

You will need:

Pumpkin coloured fabric for your bag body

Stalk colour felt for the top

Black felt for spooky features

Small piece of felt for eyes

30cm of ribbon or string

Needles, threads, pins and scissors

(Sewing machine optional)

Yummy chocolates to fill and nibble as you sew :)

First cut out your pieces using the pattern here, two of the body, stalk and eye.

It may be easier to make the mouth by taking a rectangle and cutting small triangles from each side.

Pin the felt tops to the body, wrong side together.

Stitch along the top edge of both pieces.

Fold along the seam so felt top is on the right side of your pumpkin fabric and press.

Stitch along the bottom edge of felt 'stalk' (no need to tuck the edge as its lovely unfrayable felt).

Stitch a line along the middle, making sure the width between middle and bottom stitches is slightly wider than your ribbon/string.

Stitch on your pumpkin features.

I used white highlights for my eyes as I like my pumpkins cute, but red looks spooky (three pictures above) and yellow flames look like a real pumpkin (two pictures above)

Pin right sides together, taking care to line up your stalk stitch lines.

Leaving the space between the middle and bottom stalk stitches open, sew around the edges to make your bag.

Turn right the right way and press.

Those much talked of bottom and middle stitches make the space for your drawstring. In the centre, snip two slits 2cm apart in the stalk felt between the 2 lines. Just the felt layer, don't cut through the pumpkin fabric. Using a large needle or safety pin, thread your ribbon through the stalk.

As the side seam is left open, your needle and ribbon will come out and back into the fabric here making it easier to thread.

If you accidentally sewed up the drawstring gap at the seam, you can snip a couple more slits in the felt at each side and it will work just the same with no fiddly unpicking :)

Stuff with candy and tie ribbon to make a fat round pumpkin treat bag with a gather stalk.

Give to your favourite Trick or Treater!

Halloween Garland and a Winner!

2009-10-18T22:13:00.001+01:00

A picked a pumpkin from my little giveway patch and it told me the winner is...

Rainbow Sweet Stitch!

Please let me know your postal address and I'll send your goodies straight away. My email address is in the side bar :)

And to say thank you to everyone who joined in and everyone who stops by my little blog, I have freebies for you too!

My little Trick or Treaters left me some lovely treat links which you should visit:

Bad Bird's free embroidery patterns - a Pumpkin girl and the cutest Bat boy

A chance to win the most amazing Alice in Wonderland costume! I wish I could fit into the Queen of Heart one so badly!!

And there was some very sweet mentions of my Dangly Spider Stitches from last year...

This Pumpkin Treat Bag is part of my pumpkin giveaway, all the chocolates are going in here to be sent. Silly me left it out of the pictures!! Its also my little Halloween How-to for this year and I'll share the instruction to make your own this week! But you needn't wait for a Halloween treat as I have printable Pumpkin Mini Garland for all...

Click here to make full page and print!

All you need to do is print the page, cut out your little pumpkins and fold them in half to make pretty fronts and backs. Punch holes below the stalks and thread them along a length of string or the like. I used a metre (a little over a yard) of fine wool and spaced them at 10 cm intervals with little knots to hold them in place. You can print as many as you like to make longer garlands or share with friends. And if you like your colouring pens or different colour pumpkins, there is a black and white version here for you!

Snail Mail!!

2009-10-16T22:03:00.000+01:00

I got some lovely snail mail from you dear bloggy friends this week.

First came brightly coloured stamps which made my eyes light up and this adorable cupcake card from Natasha who's known as Nattybumbum in the bloggy world and that name has to make you smile! She is a finder of the random interesting lovely things so you have to go visit her to see what she has found for you today.

The very next day a rainbow landed on my door mat! Bex had made the loveliest envelope from a page of flower-wearing cuties (with fairy instructions!!) and filled it with some pretty old stamps, so very generous!! You'll find Bex at Stuffed Nonsense, which is not just a lovely blog but also a real shop in Cheltenham, UK. If you live near, you are a very lucky thing! But for those like me who are a little too far there is a Stuffed Nonsense Folksy shop with floaty shelves filled with cuteness, like the Plumps!!

Thank you so much Natasha and Bex!

And to everyone who is joining in! I hope this will make you as excited as your snail mail makes me... I posted my first stamp badge snail mail out today in the freshly painted post box at the end of road :)

Happy Weekends everyones!

Oh... and since you've been listening to my Halloween ramblings for the whole of October, please do join in my pumpkin giveaway!!

Pumpkin Giveaway!!

2009-10-14T21:52:00.000+01:00

Time to play Trick or Treat!

And I have a bunch of goodies from the pumpkin patch to give to one bloggy Trick or Treater!

All together we have a Spooky Cute Mini Pumpkin Softie and a Little Pumpkin Felt pin from the little shop, a pumpkin 'surprise ball' which I have no idea of the contents but I am hoping will be something silly and fun, a bag of chocolate pumpkins and ghosties, four halloween balloons and a Mini Pumpkin paper mini garland...

If you'd like some Halloween goodies, the rules are the same as last year. Just pop your Halloween costume on, knock on my bloggy door and Trick or Treat me in the comments below!

And if you want to leave a treat (or a trick!) in the way of something Halloweeny (a link or some spooky fun things to do perhaps) and I'll put your name in the picking cauldron twice!

I will pick a random name this Sunday (18th of October) giving you enough time to come knocking and me time to get your goodies to you for the Halloween night!

Happy Haunting!

Cosy Crochet days

2009-10-12T13:39:00.000+01:00

Sundays are becoming my cosy craft days.

Cosy craft for me is baking something yummy then curling up with a movie and some yarn to crochet. Yesterday was particularly grey, perfect weather for that kind of afternoon...

The little coaster above was made last Sunday but its ends were woven in yesterday. Does anyone have any tips for weaving into quite open stitches? I can't say I'm doing it right...

...but I did take special care to follow the pattern exactly which is a first for me. There it is by the picture in the book, see? The book is Kyuuto! Lacy Crochet, a Japanese craft book in English and its wonderfully pretty. I started with something that looked like a granny square because I've got the hang of them now but beginning this felt like making a evil granny square. Small is tricky!! I really admire all you teeny crocheters.

Speaking of granny squares...

I made all of my 108 squares (thats 4 of each of the 27 colour combinations I found) and I started piecing them a couple of weeks ago. This has become the main event of my Sundays and the blanket is just at that size you can sit under it as you sew it. Cosy indeed!

Ah but today is Monday and I better get on with something...

Hope you all have lovely cosy weekends too and are having Happy Monday mornings!

Reward Stamps for Snail Mail (part 2)

2009-10-10T19:37:00.000+01:00

Oh Wow!

You guys are so great! I feel incredibly lucky to have such lovely bloggy friends :)

I was a little unsure whether I was being too cheeky, asking too much or just being too nutty and that is the only reason I didn't make squillions of little stamp badges to begin with. I really want to say thank you to everyone so as long as people are happy to send snail mail, I am super happy to keep stitching and scribbling badges so everyone gets one... and thats what I did this morning...

The front five are the newbies, but I hope you'll let me make some more soon. I really enjoy making these. I don't know if you can see but I've been numbering them in pennys on the top right corner and I'm thinking each should be unique. I'm not sure how many stamps it will take to fill my journal page but until it is, I will have a stamp for everyone who wants to join in :)

If you've come straight to this post and have no idea what I'm talking about, this a little snail mail project for my Wreck this Journal where I am collecting the stamps off of my mail. I will send you a stamp badge by snail mail in return for a piece of snail mail with a postage stamp I can tear off the envelope and stick in my journal to make a pretty page. There is more about it in this post.

If you'd like a little snail mail, please leave a comment with your email in either of the posts or email me at jeni_s@hotmail.co.uk, so I can give you my post address and gets yours to send the badge.

If you have already left a comment I am emailing you all now. I am terrible for replying to comments by accidentally sending emails to the noreply@blogger robot so if you haven't heard from me within a couple of days, give me a nudge because that naughty robot has eaten your mail.

Thank you so much to everyone whose replied or is thinking about it.

You are lovely!

Rewards for Snail Mail

2009-10-08T23:06:00.000+01:00

How can you not love good old fashioned snail mail?

This is the last piece of snail mail I receive... Its a super sweet snail from Ai's sweet little crochet shop. She is called Nutmeg and accorded to the little bio that came with her (how cute is that!) likes cappucino, chocolate truffles and cozy nights in front of a fire.

Nutmeg, as well as this lovely post about letter writing, got me thinking about good old fashioned stick-a-stamp-on-it post. I don't get much... franked and printed postage, yes plenty, but stamps...

Want to see how many in the last 6 weeks?

Two!

This is another page from my Wreck this Journal. Basically its sketchbook with a random instruction to follow on every page and it's fantastic! This page says "Collect the stamps off of all your mail" and this page is going to take sometime. But then I got thinking...

I've seen some people asking for stamps for their WTJ so I was wondering if maybe I could ask if people could send me some. This feels quite cheeky I must admit, but nothing ventured, nothing gained... and you would of course gain a little something too!

In return for a piece of mail with a good old fashioned postage stamp on, I would send you back a piece of mail with a good old fashion stamp on too and inside a newly fashioned fabric postage stamp badge like the ones above to say thank you!

I don't want anything fancy. The cheap stamps fill a page as good as any and you haven't to send anything but a note with your name on so I can make sure you get your badge and a thank you mention here too.

The Stamp badges are about the same size as a stamp and are hand drawn with a proper brooch fastening and I will send them anywhere you would send a stamp from :)

If anyone would like to help me, please leave a comment with your email address or email me at the address in the side bar, so I can send you my post address and get yours. I've made up the five little badges above and you can pick your own, please say which in the comments here so other people may know its yours. If there is more than five people (pretty please) I will be happily making more and more...

Thank you so much for reading my little request,

I know its a bit of an odd one but I think it might be fun...